Real name: Richard Jackson Nance

American musician (drums, trumpet, guitar) and songwriter, born April 22, 1935 in Newport, Arkansas; died April 7, 2000 in Nashville, Texas (lung cancer). Started his career playing with Sonny Burgess, and joined childhood friend Conway Twitty's band in 1958. Together with Twitty he wrote "It's Only Make Believe". He left Twitty's band to go on tour with Roy Orbison in 1960.

Subsequently, Nance worked as an agent, promoter and road manager for variety of artists, including Sonny & Cher, The Moody Blues, Elvis Presley and The Temptations. Father of Richard Nance.